Method of landing oil well casings



4 Sheets-Sheet l F. v.1. WHEELER ET AL METHOD 0 F LANDING OIL AWELL GASINGS original Filed March 2,23, 1930 Feb. 21, 1933. F. J. WHEELER ET AL METHOD OF LANDIN G OIL WELL CASINGS original Filed March 28, 1930 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 21, 1933. F. V.1 WHEELER ETAL 1,898,649

I METHOD OF LANDING OIL WELL CASINGS l I Original Filed March 28. 1950 4 Shee'ts-Sheet 5 Feb. 21, 1933. E. J. WHEELER E-r AL METHOD OF LANDING OIL WELL CASINGS.

Original Filed March 28, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 V rtf.

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Patented Feb. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT or-'FlcE FLOYD JAMES WHEELER, OF LONG BEACH, .AN D BURT STANLEY MINOR, 0F SAN PEDRO,

' CALIFORNIA METHOD OF LANDING OIL WELL CASINGS Application ledllarch 28, 1930, Serial No. 489,848. Renewed July 14, 1932.

In landing a string of casing it is impossible to predetermine how much of the inner string will project above the casing or control head on the outer casing after the inner string has been cemented and stretched. Hence it is necessary to release the entire string in order to unscrew and remove the top joint and replace it with a nipple or joint of such length that may be connected with the control head.

It is more or less dangerous to release the inner string as its inherent weightV often causes fracturing of the cement seal or bending or breaking of said inner string. If the string becomes badly bent permanent loss of the well results.

It is the object of this invention to provide a method whereby a string of casing may be suspended at all times during landing operations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method whereby the last joint of string of the casing may be removed and a nipple of the required length be replaced therefor without releasing said string.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the improved method will be more fully understood by the following description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view taken through an oil well and casing showing the first step in carrying out the improved method -of landing a casing;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the second step in the improved method;

Fig. 3 is a view showing the third step in landing a casing;

Fig. 4 is a view showing the casing landed in the well hole;

Figs. 5, 6, 7,8, 9 and 10 illustrate the successive steps in landing a. casing by the improved method in a slightly modied manner;

Fig. 11 is a sectional View taken through an oil well showing an outer or water string of casing suspended in the hole by the improved method;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken through a plurality of strings of casing illustrating a practical hook-up when the improved method is employed;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig.\11 showing another hook-up or assembly of casing with the improved method. i

Referring inore specifically to the drawings, particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, 10 designates a well holein which has been lowered the outer or first string of casing 12 and cemented as lindicated at 14. This string is usually landed at a comparatively shallow depth and` maybe released without any danger after the cement has become hardened; however, it may be suspended by the improved method prior to cementing if desired.

Referring more specifically to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, an inner string designated at 16 is lowered into the portion of the hole extending below the outer string to the required depth by'an elevator designated at 18 as shown in Fi 1 and is then held suspended in this pos1tion by the usual slips 19 resting in a spider 20 mounted in the derrick floor 22. The lower end of the .casing is then cemented as indicated at 23. It will be particularly noted that all of the inner string is made up with theusual couplings with'the exception of the last two or three joints. At thispoint a forged steelcoupling 24 internally and externally threaded is applied to the upper or top joint of the inner string, the remaining joints indicated atl 25 are then made up and screw threaded into the upper end of said coupling.-

After the cementing process has been completed theA distance between the-'upper face of the casing flange 28 and the coupling 24 elevator again connected to the inner casing to suspend it as shown in Fig. 3.

Casing is next raised by any suitable means and the slips and spider removed and said casing lowered into the hole and screw threaded to the coupling 24. When thus connected the flange 34 of the control head fitting will rest on or engage the upper face of the outer casing flange 28. The flanges 28 and 34 may then be secured together with bolts and nuts 36 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. .The joints 25 are now unscrewed from the coupling 24 as shown in Fig. 4, thus completing the landing operation.

Referring slightly modified method of landing aA casing by the improved method is illustrated and carried out as follows:

The inner string generally designated at 40 is lowered into the well hole 42 through outer casing 44 to a position to be cemented,

and is made up with the usual couplings except the last upper joint near the surface which is provided with a coupling 46 having male and female threads, the remainder of the string is temporarily made up of one or more joints of larger diameter casing indicated at 48, the lower end of which is screw threaded to the couplinn` 46 and is held suspended by slips 50 in a spider 51 resting on the derrick Hoor, the lower end of the casing is then cemented as indicated at 45.

The distance between the face of the casing flange 52 and the coupling 46 is deter- -mined (this may be easily done as the coupling is near the surface) a nipple 54 is then cut corresponding'to this measurement and threaded at each end. A stand 56 made up of one or more joints of casing is then connected to the nipple by a coupling 58 rovided with external threads designate at 59. Stand 56 is next lowered through the casing 48 and screw threaded into the coupling 46 as shown in Figure 6.

CThe inner string is now suspended or carried by a .usual casing` elevator 60 and the temporary supporting string 48 disconnected from the coupling 46 and raised in the derrick to a point above the spider 51, the slips 50 are then removed and replaced with slips 62 which will grip the stand 56 as shown in Fig. 7 .l

After the inner string is suspended on the spider the elevator and "stand 48 are'then removed and a control head fitting 65 is lowered over the projecting end of the stand as shown in Fig. 8. The inner string is again suspended bythe elevator, the spider and slips removed and the casingv head {itting 65 screw threaded to the coupling 46 as shown in Fig. 9, the weight of the inner string will then be carried by the casing head fitting.V Having'the inner string suspended the stand is now. removed, thuscompleting to Figs. 5 to 10 inclusive, a,

the operation of landing the casing as shown in F1 10.

Re erring to Fig. 11 a single string of4 casing designated at is shown suspended in a well hole 71. As reviously stated the outer string is usually anded at a comparatively shallow depth and may be released without danger. However should it be necessary to land it a considerable depth, the

improved method may be employed as above above the coupling utilized to suspend the string while making up and connecting the casing 73v is then removed. The string 70 thus sus ended may then be cemented (if required and drilling continued for the next string.

In Figs. 12 and 13 a plurality of strings are shown in assembled relationwhich consist of a usual hook-up including, 'for example, an inner string of 95/8 casing desi nated at 80, an intermediate string of 13% diameter casin indicated at 81, and an outer string 82 of 16 diameter casing, the threaded coupling members employed in carrying out the method'being indicated at 84 on the inner string and at 85 on the intermediate string to which are connected sections. 86

and 87 made to the measurement taken durin the landing operation. When 135/8 and necessary to 16 casings are telescoped it is for the top provide larger diameter casin les.

joint in order to give sufliclent clearance therebetween to accommodate the couplings,

this joint being indicated at 88 and consists of 185/8 casing connected to the outer string 'by a suitable coupling 90 the upper ends of 86 and- 87 lieing connected by` the sections couplings 90 and 92 to control heads 93 and Under certain conditions it is desirable to suspend the inner string of casing in casing heads having packing means, th1s form of head being illustrated in Fig. 13, the assembly of the various strings being the same as that shown in Fig. 12. In this instance the inner and intermediate strings are provided with couplings and 102 respectively which compress packing 106 in the control heads 108 and 110 secured to the upper end of the outer and intermediate strings. lWe claim: v j,

1. A method of landing a well casing comprising making up a string of casing as the same is lowered in the well, applying a couplin member to the upper end of onel of 'the joints of said casing, making up the revof casing as it is lowered in the well, said coupling member being-interposed in said string of casing at such point that when said casing has reached the desired depth it will be below the upper end of thewell, providing a casing supporting member at the upper end of the well, measuring the distance between said coupling and the supporting member, making up a section of casing cornecting the lower end of said section of casing to said coupling member and the upper end thereof to said supporting member, and nally removing that portion ofthe string of casing extending above said coupling member.

2. A method of landing a plurality of concentric strings of well casings in an oil well, comprising providing the outer string of casing with a top connecting flange, coupling up an inner string of casing and providing the upper` end of said string with a couplmg having internal and external threads, connecting an upper section of casing to said coupling and suspending said inner string, measuring the distance between the liange of the outer casing and the coupling at the upper end of the inner string, making up a second section of casing one size larger in diameter than said inner string and of a length corresponding to the measurement taken,` connecting a control head to its upper end, connecting said second sec tion of the casing to said coupling and the control head to the top llange on the outer casing.

3. A method of landing an inner string of well casing and connecting it -to an outer casing previously landed in a well hole without releasing said inner string, comprising interposing a coupling externally threaded in the inner string at a oint so that it will be located near the sur ace when the inner string has been lowered to the required depth in the hole, measuring the distance between the upper end of theouter casing and said externally threaded coupling, making up a second section of casing corresponding in length to the measurement taken and connecting it to said coupling while the inner string is suspended, and applying a member to said secondV section of casing and connecting it to the upper end of the outer string of casing.A

4. A `method of landing well casing including an outer casing, comprising making up a string of inner casing with the usual couplings except the upper joint near the surface, applying a coupling having internal and external threads to the upper joint of said casing, screwing an upper section of casing into said coupling and suspending the inner string of casing, measuring the distance between the upper end of the outerl casing and said internally and externally threaded coupling, lowering a second string of one size larger casing corresponding -to the measurement taken over the upper section of casing, connecting said second string of casing to said coupling, applying a member to the upper end of said second string and connecting said member to the outer casing, and finally removing the upper.. sec- 'tion of casing from said coupling. responding tothe measurement taken, con- 5. A method of landing a well casing including an outer casinghaving a top flange and an inner casing, comprising insertin a coupling internally and externally threa ed in said inner string at such a point that it will be near the surface when the string has been lowered to the required depth in the well hole, suspending said inner casing by suitable stationary supporting means, measuring the distance between the top. flange on the outer casing and the coupling and making up a second casing'corresponding to the measurement taken, applying a control head to said second casing, lowering said second casing over the portion of said inner casing projecting above the supporting means and permitting it to rest thereon, suspending said inner string by an elevator,

removing the supporting means, connecting said second string to said coupling and the` control head thereon to the outer casing top Hange, and iinally removing the portion of the inner string extending above said coupling.

6. A method of landing a well casing comprising making up a string of casing with the usual couplings as the same is lowered in the well, appl ing an internally and externally threade coupling to the upper end of one of thejoints of sald casing, making up the remaining string with additional joints of casing as it is lowered in the well, cementing said casing in the hole, providing a supporting member at the upper end of the well,

said externally threaded coupling being in- Ii 1 terposed in said string of Ccasing at such` point that when said casing has reached the desired de th it will be below the upper end oi the wel measuring the distance between said internally andl externally threaded coupling and the supporting member,v making up a section of casing corresponding to the measurement taken, connecting the lower end of said section of casing to said mternally and externally threaded coupling and the upper end thereof to said supportingv member, and finally removing the portion of the string of casing extending above said internally and externally threaded coupling.

7. A method of landing a..we1l casing including an outer casing and an inner casing comprising connecting an internally and externally threaded coupling to the upper end of the inner string of a casing, temporarily connecting an upper string of larger diameter casing to said inner string by screwing it to they external thread on said coupling, lowering the inner string in the usual manner y ing the nipple and stand, connecting said until the coupling is a few joints below the surface, suspending the string thus made up, i

measuring the distance between the upper end 'of the outer string and the coupling, connecting the inner strin with the larger diameter upper casing, ma ing up a nipple corresponding in length to the measurement taken, connecting a stand of casing to said nipple by an external threaded coupling, screwing said nipple into the coupling on the inner string, suspending the inner string by a casing elevator, engaging the portion of` the stand of casing projecting above the upper end of the temporary supporting upper casing, disconnecting the temporary supporting casing from the coupling on the inner string, suspending the inner string by a stationary supporting means engaging said stand, lowerin a control head over said stand and allowlng it to rest on the supporting means, again suspendingsaid stand by the casing elevator, removing the stationary supporting means, screw threading said casing head to the coupling connectcontrol head to the'upper end of said outer casing, and finally removing said stand from said nipple. e

In testimony whereof we aix our signatures.

/ BURT S. MINOR.

FLOYD J. WHEELER. 

